early 19th-century shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico in 2013, the archaeological reconnaissance of the wrecks of the SS Coast Trader and SS Dorothy Wintermote, and the first archaeological documentation of the wrecks of USS Independence and USS Bugara. Delgado created a NOAA maritime heritage publication series, instituted the use of maritime cultural landscapes as a principle for characterizing and managing maritime cultural resources in the National Marine Sanctuary System, and led NOAA's ongoing role in the U.S. Government's activities related to the wreck of Titanic. He also was key in the successful negotiation and signing of international agreements between the United States, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Republic of France on shared underwater and maritime cultural heritage, and represented the United States in international meetings with the United Nationals Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Delgado also co-chaired the interagency working group on underwater cultural heritage in Washington, D.C. during his NOAA tenure. SEARCH, Inc. In 2017, as he approached 60, Dr. Delgado retired from government service and joined the private sector as Senior Vice President of SEARCH, Inc., one of the largest cultural resources and archaeological firms in the United States. Since then he has worked on a variety of projects, most recently the analysis of a wreck thought to be Clotilda, the last American ship to bring slaves to the United States. The analysis by Dr. Delgado and his colleagues determined the wreck was not Clotilda. Dr. Delgado led a subsequent project which analyzed over a dozen possible targets that culminated in a year-long excavation and analysis that identified one of the targets as Clotilda. The results were revealed by the Alabama Historical Commission in May 2019. Dr. Delgado's other projects at SEARCH have included other maritime projects, notably serving as the Series Senior Advisor for the ongoing National Geographic Television Series Drain the Oceans, in which he also frequently appears. In May 2020, Dr. Delgado was the lead archaeologist in the search for, discovery, and exploration of the battleship , discovered by Ocean Infinity and SEARCH, Inc. in three miles of water off Oahu. Recognition, public and professional service In addition to 20 years of public service in the National Park Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Delgado has held a series of appointed civic political positions and has served as an officer in professional associations, including a term as President of the Council